3m Company Innovation at Its Best
3M Company (NYSE: MMM), formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul.
With over 76,000 employees, they produce over 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products electronic circuits and optical films. 3M has operations in more than 60 countries – 29 international companies with manufacturing operations, and 35 with laboratories. 3M products are available for purchase through distributors and retailers in more than 200 countries, and many 3M products are available online directly from the company.
Case questions: 1. Describe the organizational structures and devices 3M uses to encourage entrepreneurial activity. Why do they work?
3M is supported from its headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It has more than 35 business units, organized into six businesses:
* Consumer and Office * Display and Graphics * Electro and Communications * Health Care * Industrial and Transportation * Safety, Security and Protection Services 3M operates in more than 65 countries – 35 international companies with manufacturing operations, 35 with laboratories. * 45 technology platforms, including: * Adhesives * Abrasives * Light Management * Micro-replication * Nonwoven Materials * Nanotechnology * Surface Modification * 6,700 researchers worldwide- 3,400 in the United States. * U.S. Patents Awarded – 518 Some of the Devices used by 3M to promote Entrepreneurial Activity and Culture are as follows
* 15 Percent Option: Many employees have the option to spend up to 15 percent of their workweek pursuing individual projects of their own choice. There is no need even to disclose the project to a manager, much less justify it.
* 30 Percent Rule: Thirty
With over 76,000 employees, they produce over 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products electronic circuits and optical films. 3M has operations in more than 60 countries – 29 international companies with manufacturing operations, and 35 with laboratories. 3M products are available for purchase through distributors and retailers in more than 200 countries, and many 3M products are available online directly from the company.
Case questions: 1. Describe the organizational structures and devices 3M uses to encourage entrepreneurial activity. Why do they work?
3M is supported from its headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It has more than 35 business units, organized into six businesses:
* Consumer and Office * Display and Graphics * Electro and Communications * Health Care * Industrial and Transportation * Safety, Security and Protection Services 3M operates in more than 65 countries – 35 international companies with manufacturing operations, 35 with laboratories. * 45 technology platforms, including: * Adhesives * Abrasives * Light Management * Micro-replication * Nonwoven Materials * Nanotechnology * Surface Modification * 6,700 researchers worldwide- 3,400 in the United States. * U.S. Patents Awarded – 518 Some of the Devices used by 3M to promote Entrepreneurial Activity and Culture are as follows
* 15 Percent Option: Many employees have the option to spend up to 15 percent of their workweek pursuing individual projects of their own choice. There is no need even to disclose the project to a manager, much less justify it.
* 30 Percent Rule: Thirty